A systematic study of"the rule-by-law thoughts"under the benevolent governance of Zhou Dynasty
There is no complete record of"the rule-by-law thoughts"in Zhou Dynasty,which were scattered in The Book of Documents and The Rites of Zhou of the Western Zhou Dynasty and in philosophies or theories of the Eastern Zhou.In view of lessons learned from the deaths of Xia Jie and Yin Zhou through tyranny,the Western Zhou promoted benevolent governance.Benevolent governance is based on"rule by virtue"and also takes into account"rule by law"."Rule by law"became one of the two wings of benevolent governance in Zhou Dynasty,which was manifested as lawmaking with benevolence,judicature with benevolence,prudent punishment with bright virtue,with virtue being the principal and punishment being the secondary.Up to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty,although the princes fought for hegemony and the rites collapsed,the tradition of benevolent governance in the Western Zhou Dynasty was still dominant,which was not only developed by Confucianism,but also supplemented by Taoism and mixed by miscellaneous theories.Even legalists and famous scholars who openly opposed benevolent and virtuous governance and advocated severe punishment and harsh law,did so under the banner of benevolence and justice.The whole landscape of"the rule-by-law thought"in Zhou Dynasty was formed by applying the rule of law in the name of benevolence and justice.
benevolent governance of Zhou Dynastythe rule-by-law thoughtsprudent punishment with bright virtuesuppress punishment via punishment
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